Once Bound Always Bound

Chapter 9

The next day Emmeline was sitting at the dining table eating breakfast with her darling husband sitting across from her.

Alistair noticed that Emmeline had been quiet. It unnerved him, not knowing what his wife was thinking about. Alistair cleared his throat, breaking Emmeline out of her thoughts, causing her to turn her gaze to Alistair.

"My darling wife, is there something bothering you," Alistair asked.

"No. I was just sitting here enjoying breakfast with my husband like you want. Is there something wrong with that," Emmeline asked.

"No. I was asking, because you are very quiet, and as your husband, I was hoping that you would be more open with me. Maybe even start a conversation with me. You are aware that many husbands and wives talk about how their day is going. I figured we could do the same thing," Alistair said.

"Did you make any attempt to speak about your day with your other three wives that you were married to before me," Emmeline asked without thinking about it.

Alistair let out an annoyed sigh upon hearing that. "My other wives are not any of your concern. You would be wise not to bring them up in conversation with me again. I don't want to have to punish you to put you in your proper place."

"I only ask, because I hear the way that people speak about you. And trust me when I say, that they don't speak too kindly about you at all. Do you have any idea what that does to me as your wife; when I hear people speak so lowly about you? I can't help but wonder if I will be the next wife that makes her way to the grave like the others. Or will you grow tired of me that you will send me off to another state, with enough money to get by until I manage to find myself another man, to call my husband," Emmeline said trying to hide her annoyance with her new husband.

Alistair stood up from his seat, making his way over to his wife, showing that he was not pleased with what Emmeline had said to him. Emmeline looked up and noticed how annoyed with her Alistair was. When Alistair got next to Emmeline, he grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her up from her seat, holding her in place. "You think you are being cute by saying what you did? Do you honestly believe that I would throw you away like you are nothing? Are you comparing yourself to a common street walker, who I happened to make the mistake of marrying?"

"I'm not trying to be cute as you say. I ask because I want to know where I stand in your life. I want to be ready to pick up the pieces that you manage to shatter, when you come to me saying that you have found my replacement, who will take my place by your side in your marriage bed," Emmeline said wincing when she felt Alistair's grip on her arm tighten.

"I am quite offended that you believe that I would throw you away for someone who is worth half of you. I have been waiting quite a while for a woman like you to come into my life. You are the only woman who I feel that is worthy to help me continue my bloodline. If you truly feel that you can find a way out of having my children, you are sadly mistaken," Alistair said while tightening his grip on Emmeline's arm even more.

"Let go of my arm Alistair. You're hurting me," Emmeline said.

"You are my wife. I will do with you as I please," Alistair said.

"And what if one of the maids walk by and see the way that you are manhandling me? Do you want the maids to talk about how you go and manhandle your wife, demanding that she gives you children to continue your family bloodline? Do you want children to see the way that you treat their mother? Do you want to teach your children that it's okay to manhandle their wives or teach your daughters that they have to be manhandles by their husbands," Emmeline said knowing that she was getting under Alistair's skin.

"You forget my darling wife, that the maids know who they work for. They would never go against the one who not only feeds them, but gives them shelter. Do you honestly think that they will go against me," Alistair asked.